(Sonia Friedman Productions, Stuart Thompson Productions, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Charles Diamond and the Almeida Theatre in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre and by Arrangement with Lee Dean)
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| Robert Powell, Ben Righton & Jennifer Bryden |
Writer, Mike Bartlett, recently wowed the nation with the
most watched drama series this year, Dr Foster. Over 8 million people tuned in
to follow the exploits of the woman scorned. Malvern Festival Theatre’s last
encounter with this gifted playwright was the stunning Earthquakes in London
and this new tour of King Charles III is equally enthralling. Following a
successful run in the West End, this visionary work has won several awards,
including an Olivier for Best New Play and last month saw it preview on
Broadway. The play gives a glimpse of a possible future, just seven years away,
in the weeks following the queen’s death and Charles’ long awaited ascension to
the throne. It explores the political and social impact of freethinking within
the monarchy, freedom of the press and the right to privacy, with the demands and
difficulties of familial duty and expectations.
Robert Powell heads the cast as the future King and is
impressive in the enormity of the role. It will be unreasonable to highlight
any particular performance though as every single member of the sixteen strong
cast are superb in the telling of this very plausible story. The play runs for
nearly three hours including interval and is a wonderful homage to
Shakespeare’s history plays. Written in iambic pentameter, with soliloquies and
comedy to relive the tension, it gives the audience an utterly unique
experience of exactly what it must have been like to have witnessed the bard’s
work at the time of writing. Directors, Rupert Goold and Whitney Mosery, do an
impeccable job with the staging of this epic piece and Tom Scutt’s stunning
recreation of the Almeida Theatre is inspired and a beautiful canvas for Jon
Clark’s atmospheric lighting design.
King Charles III is remarkable, groundbreaking theatre. It is
the most unusual feeling watching a live performance about such familiar people
in a future event that isn’t far off and entirely possible. It’s a truly unique
experience and unquestionably one worth experiencing.
5 stars
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